Sunday, August 23, 2020

The Sunday Comments ( 8 - 23 - 20 )


That’s right folks … it’s finally here …
A brand new Sunday Comments Page!
(I guess you could say putting the finishing touches on our Top 200 All-Time Favorite Songs of Summer list has been occupying quite a bit of my time lately!)

But here is just some of the mail that’s been piling up …

THIS AND THAT:
From FH Reader Shelley Sweet-Tufano … another way to help our music venues …  
Because you've reached out to Senator Murphy about supporting the arts and independent music venues, I wanted to send you a quick update to let you know that he cosponsored the RESTART Act, and is urging that it be included in the next COVID-19 relief package.
The RESTART Act is a bipartisan bill to provide additional forgivable loans to business with up to 5,000 employees, which is particularly helpful to independent music venues in Connecticut that have not been eligible for PPP loans.
Music venues are experiencing up to 90 percent revenue loss and will be one of the last industries to reopen. It is critical that Congress provide support to artists and employees so that these venues can reengage music fans when it is safe to reopen.
Please rest assured that Senator Murphy will continue to advocate for assistance to these critical arts and cultural institutions in the state. 
I hope you found this letter helpful. You can get the latest updates on his work in the Senate by following him on Facebook and Instagram. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our offices in Hartford or in Washington, DC. 
Let’s make this a nationwide campaign to help and support our music venues … SAVE OUR STAGES!!!  (kk)

Not a bad way to start the week …

Hi Kent,
One of the few silver-linings in this Covid-craziness is that Forgotten Hits remains a constant.  You don't have to wear a mask or gloves to read and enjoy or participate in your great publication.
Just one of the constants I really enjoy is the recognition and appreciation of artists that are not only living and still out there performing, but also the recognition and appreciation of those that weren't quite "famous" enough after their passing to make the 5 o'clock news. 
The ties that bind your audience is music.  Whether it is an artist, a composer, a producer, an air personality, a record executive or record or concert promoter, the common denominator is music.  And, the appreciation of those that perform, compose, produce, or write about it -- or, just plain love to hear it, whether in person or on a recording. 
Trini Lopez or Wayne Fontana didn't make the 5 o'clock news, but to those of us of which they were in the soundtrack of our lives, they are "breaking news!" 
Thanks to you Kent and Forgotten Hits for your constant recognition and appreciation of music and the people that make it and made it, and those that "made it" to the top and even half-way to the top!
Thank- You,
Tim Kiley

Hey Kent.
Your Forgotten Hits is one thing that keeps me positive through this Covid crap.
Thanks buddy.
Toad

kk:
Did you ever look into groups that were on Mike Douglas Show?
Here’s a clip of The Box Tops on The Mike Douglas Show:
FB
A lot of great music acts appeared on both Merv Griffin’s and Mike Douglas’ weekday day-time programs (including Chicago’s own New Colony Six!)
A few years back a DVD box set came out spotlighting some of these artists.  (Unfortunately, the “Six” were not among them.)
Mike Douglas had John and Yoko co-host for an entire week … and they brought on some of their favorite artists as guests, too.  (I remember rushing home from school to see Lennon singing with Chuck Berry … and performing the best version of his hit “Imagine” I had ever heard with Elephant’s Memory, who were acting as his backing band at the time.) 
There used to be a box set of DVD’s that featured the whole week of John and Yoko hosting the show but it is evidently now long out of print.  Only one Mike Douglas DVD shows up on Amazon this morning … it’s still quite a collection, featuring Lennon, Dr. Martin Luther King, Mel Brooks, Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart and others … you’ve got to remember that these daytime talk shows played to ALL audiences and, as such, had some of the highest profile newsmakers on as guests.
Several Merv Griffin sets are available … they seem to be more “themed” oriented in some cases … but again, you’ll find a wide variety of guest from show biz to music to politics and then some.
The Merv Griffin box I’ve got features Dionne Warwick, The Everly Brothers, The Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, Roger Miller, Glen Campbell, John Denver, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Freddie and the Dreamers, Mrs. Miller (!), Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Whitney Houston , Weird Al Yankovic, Carole King and more.  (kk)

We heard that Cousin Brucie had been dropped by Sirius / XM a couple of weeks ago … and then got this from FH Reader Frank B …
kk …
I didn't even have time to miss him and he's back.
Frank B.
Thanks for the warning, Frank … I know that I won’t be listening!  (kk)

FH Reader Fred Glickstein (Where The Flock you been, Freddy???) sent us this cool clip of Great One Hit Wonders from the ‘60’s … so we’ve just GOTTA share it with you!



I see that Sirius / XM has also started a One Hit Wonder Channel ... will have to check this out as well!  (kk)

Here’s a GREAT Rolling Stone Interview with Micky Dolenz …

Micky’s Promo Guy David Salidor also sent along this vintage photo of Micky with David and Biographer of The Rock Stars, Mark Bego, also a client, from 1994 ...

IS THIS A CLASSIC SHOT OR WHAT?
Micky Dolenz, is joined by co-writer MARK BEGO at the 1994 launch of the book I'M A BELIEVER: MY LIFE OF MONKEES, MUSIC AND MADNESS, at NYC's Hard Rock Cafe.
Seen at the far left is PR-man David Salidor (who orchestrated the entire event) and who was Bego's publicist back then (and, still is today) ... and, now, Dolenz's PR-man as well.

PHOTO BY CHUCK PULIN

Why does Micky look so angry?!?!  LOL (kk)

This photo is from 1994 (!!!)  It's the first time I met Micky. Now, I'm his PR-guy and remain as Bego's PR-guy ... funny shot for sure. 
dis

FH Reader Tom Cuddy just sent us this:
Peter FramptonPaul RodgersMark Knopfler, Rick WakemanJohn OatesKiki Dee and many other artists will take part in an all-star recording of the Ben E. King classic “Stand by Me” to raise money for Help Musicians, which benefits out of work musicians in England due to the pandemic. It will be released on October 27th, the 60th anniversary of the day King recorded it in 1960.


Harvey Kubernik posted a couple of pieces on the loss of Jan Savage of The Seeds, a group that he has covered extensively in the past …
The Seeds were VERY popular here in Chicago where they scored TWO Top Ten Hits in 1967, including “Pushin’ Too Hard” which went all the way to #1.  “Can’t Seem To Make You Mine” peaked later in the year at #9.  (Their national peaks were considerably lower … #35 and #41 respectively.)

We have complained incessantly about how Billboard Magazine continues to show “record breakers” for their Hot 100 Era despite the fact that the criteria for earning a hit record has changed DRASTICALLY over the past 62 years … and no fair, level playing ground can possibly be administered anymore.
Well last week Billboard ran a list of records that (so far anyway) have stood the test of time …
Things like The Beatles’ TWENTY #1 Hits … and Chubby Checker topping the charts TWICE during two separate chart runs with “The Twist.”  The Beatles holding down The Top Five spots on Billboard’s Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart … most consecutive years with a Top 40 Hit (Elton John) … most consecutive #1 Hits (Whitney Houston) … most #1’s in a single calendar year (The Beatles … again) … etc., etc., etc.
You can check it all out here:

Here’s some great news …

Some of the full-length Elvis Presley appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show will be premiering on the brand new YouTube Ed Sullivan Show Channel.

Here is an updated schedule that you may want to save for future reference
(Please note that due to OUR tardiness, some of these clips have already premiered):

‘THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW’ YOUTUBE CHANNEL CELEBRATES ELVIS PRESLEY
Three-Month Worldwide Streaming Specials Kick Off in August with “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Love Me,” “Love Me Tender,” “Peace In The Valley” And “When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again” 
September Tribute Features Elvis Presley’s Performances of “Ready Teddy” And A Medley That Includes “Heartbreak Hotel”; October Adds “Too Much” 
Iconic Clips From Historic Performances Officially Available Worldwide Via Streaming Platforms Through Recently Announced Deal Between UMe and SOFA Entertainment For ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’
On August 16, The Ed Sullivan Show’s official YouTube channel begins a tribute to one of rock ‘n’ roll music’s most iconic talents with a special rollout of performances that spanned three appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. That Elvis Presley became the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll is pop culture legend, and, at the dawn of the modern television boom, America’s most popular variety program catapulted him to the throne when 60 million viewers -- more than two-thirds of all TV viewers at the time -- tuned in to watch his debut on the program. Subscribe to the channel and set a reminder for the premiere here: https://EdSullivanShow.lnk.to/ELVIS. 
“Appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show meant everything to Elvis,” said his lifelong friend, associate, and colleague Jerry Schilling during an exclusive interview recently with Andrew Solt on August 6, 2020. “At the end of his third appearance when Ed Sullivan goes over to Elvis and says, ‘I wanted to say to Elvis Presley and the country that this is a real decent, fine boy. We have never had a pleasanter experience on our show with a big name than we had with you; you’re thoroughly alright. Let’s have a tremendous hand for a very nice person.’ When you look into Elvis’s eyes at that moment, you knew he felt accepted and sincerely proud. Ed had given him that endorsement.”
Nearly 50 years after The Ed Sullivan Show wrapped its final episode and charmed TV viewers for the final time on Sunday night June 6, 1971, it officially joined the streaming universe to live on forever on June 12 thanks to the deal between UMe and SOFA Entertainment Inc. to globally curate The Ed Sullivan Show, encompassing the influential television program’s historic 23-year primetime run on CBS and marking the first time performances and guest segments from the program are officially available in their entirety across streaming services worldwide. Elvis Presley is among the thousands of clips that are regularly being made available to fans.
“Elvis’s multi-dimensional performances continue to impact and resonate with audiences everywhere,” said Marc Rosen, EVP of Entertainment at Authentic Brands Group, owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises, LLC. “It’s incredible that more than six decades after his musical debut, we continue to uncover hidden gems from Elvis’s most memorable appearances like these on The Ed Sullivan Show.”
Bruce Resnikoff, UMe President & CEO, said, “The Ed Sullivan Show brought a phenomenal talent into millions of living rooms and helped catapult Elvis Presley into the hearts and minds of music fans all around the world.  We are proud to make these amazing performances officially available on streaming services.”
“Elvis on Ed Sullivan was the original Big Bang of rock ‘n roll,” said Andrew Solt, CEO of SOFA Entertainment. “The first night 60 million tuned in to witness the young man from Memphis sing his heart out. Overnight popular culture was upended. Elvis was James Dean and Marlon Brando multiplied. His boundless talent and charisma captivated America. In a few short years, Elvis and rock ‘n roll had conquered the planet.”
Josh Solt, President of SOFA Entertainment, said, “It is truly exciting to work with UMe to make these Elvis Presley clips available to existing fans and future generations.”
While the August 16 kick-off pays tribute to the anniversary of Presley’s passing in 1977 with clips from throughout his three appearances, September celebrates his first-ever performance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which took place on September 9, 1956. Additional clips will rollout in October, which was a special month in the life of Elvis Presley. His first public performance – at the age of 10 in 1945 – was in October; he arrived in Germany in October 1958 to begin his Army deployment. And, of course, his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show was October 28, 1956, when audiences swooned as he sang the heartfelt “Love Me Tender.”
Throughout its Sunday evening run, The Ed Sullivan Show brought the hottest performances from around the world and introduced emerging talent to America’s living room every Sunday night. In addition to Elvis Presley, the show featured some of the earliest or first televised performances of music superstars including Stevie Wonder, The Band, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Jackson 5, The Mamas and the Papas, The Supremes, and The Rolling Stones.
Among the voluminous gems in this vast catalog are iconic clips that have primarily only been available in excerpted versions on EdSullivan.com or as low-resolution digital “bootlegs.” UMe uploads new videos daily, including scores of rarities available digitally for the first time, to The Ed Sullivan Show’s official YouTube channel and EdSullivan.com, both newly updated. 
Live On The Ed Sullivan Show YOUTUBE channel celebrates Elvis Presley*:

STREAM LAUNCH
ARTIST
PERFORMANCE
AIRDATE
SUN 8/16
Elvis Presley
Hound Dog
September 9, 1956
MON 8/17
Elvis Presley
Don't Be Cruel
September 9, 1956 
TUE 8/18
Elvis Presley
Love Me
October 28, 1956
WED 8/19
Elvis Presley
Love Me Tender
October 28, 1956
WED  8/26
Elvis Presley
When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
January 6, 1957
WED 9/2
Elvis Presley
Ready Teddy
September 9, 1956
WED 9/9
Elvis Presley
Peace In The Valley
September 9, 1956
WED 9/16
Elvis Presley
Hound Dog, Love Me Tender, Heartbreak Hotel
January 6, 1957
WED 9/23
Elvis Presley
Don't Be Cruel
October 28, 1956
WED 9/30
Elvis Presley
Hound Dog
October 28, 1956
WED 10/7
Elvis Presley
Too Much
January 6, 1957
WED 10/14
Elvis Presley
Love Me Tender
September 9, 1956
WED 10/21
Elvis Presley
Don’t Be Cruel
January 6, 1957
*Schedule may be subject to change without notice

About Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley is one of the most influential pop culture figures of the 20th century. Often referred to as the "King of Rock ‘n’ Roll," Elvis’ commanding voice and charismatic stage presence unleashed a musical and cultural revolution that changed the world. Over the course of his extraordinary career, Elvis was nominated for 14 Grammy Awards (3 wins), sold over 1 billion records worldwide, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was named “One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation” by the United States Jaycees, as well as the 2018 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In addition to his musical accolades, Elvis starred in 33 films and made numerous television appearances.
More than 60 years after his global debut, Elvis’ legacy is stronger than ever. His life and music have inspired countless hit musicals, movies and TV series’, fiction and non-fiction books, musical covers, and commercial endorsements, as well as a robust merchandise program spanning collectibles and fashion collaborations. An enduring symbol of “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s” stardom, Graceland, Elvis’ Memphis home, is the second most-visited home in the United States after the White House, drawing over 600,000 visitors annually and tens of thousands of fans for its Elvis Week celebration. With more than 15 million fans across social media and a growing multimedia presence, the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” continues to inspire today’s most influential musicians, designers, entertainers, and social influencers and captivate audiences around the world.
For more information, visit elvisthemusic.com. Shop Elvis products at shopelvis.com.
Follow Elvis on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter.
About The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is the most popular primetime variety show in American history. For nearly a quarter century, Ed Sullivan hosted the greatest array of talent on television, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley and Motown artists such as The Supremes, The Temptations and The Jackson 5. Every Sunday night at 8pm on CBS from 1948-1971, The Ed Sullivan Show showcased a wide variety of pop culture from the worlds of music, comedy, novelty and much more. The library of 1,000 hours includes over 10,000 performances. 
About SOFA Entertainment
In 1990, Andrew Solt formed SOFA Entertainment Inc. and acquired The Ed Sullivan Show from the Sullivan family. The Ed Sullivan Show is the most respected and revered variety show in television history. SOFA Entertainment is the copyright holder of the original Ed Sullivan programs and over 150 hours of newly created programming. 
About UMe
Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) is the centralized U.S. catalog and special markets entity for UMG. Working in tandem with all of the company’s record labels, UMe provides a frontline approach to catalog management, a concentration of resources, opportunities in new technologies and an emphasis on strategic marketing initiatives to engage all types of consumers across multiple entry points and platforms. 

Lots more Ed Sullivan highlights are coming your way …
Check out The Everly Brothers, Bill Haley and his Comets, Nat “King” Cole, The Temptations, Bobby Helms, Eddie Fisher, Patti Page, Fats Domino, Guy Mitchell and The Supremes (both with and without Diana Ross!!!)
Many of these full-length clips are already posted.
Subscribe to The Ed Sullivan Show YouTube Channel now!


STREAM LAUNCH
ARTIST
PERFORMANCE
AIRDATE
FRI 8/14
The Everly Brothers
Walk Right Back
June 15, 1969
SAT 8/15
Darryl F. Zanuck
Film Producer
September 12, 1954
SAT 8/15
Red Skelton
Texas
September 11, 1966
SUN 8/16
Bill Haley And His Comets
Forty Cups Of Coffee
April 28, 1957
SUN 8/16
Elvis Presley**
Hound Dog
September 9, 1956
SUN 8/16
Nat King Cole
Mona Lisa, Too Young
March 7, 1954
SUN 8/16
Rodney Dangerfield
Tired Busy And No Respect
February 18, 1968
MON 8/17
Elvis Presley**
Don't Be Cruel
September 9, 1956
MON 8/17
Patti Page
Night And Day
July 22, 1962
MON 8/17
Peter Sellers
Ed Interviews Federico Fabrizi
October 3, 1965
TUE 8/18
Clark Gable & Sophia Loren
In Rome With Ed
August 7, 1960
TUE 8/18
Elvis Presley**
Love Me
October 28, 1956
TUE 8/18
The Temptations
Cloud Nine
February 2, 1969
TUE 8/18
Tony Lema
Golf Pro
February 6, 1966
WED 8/19
Bobby Helms
My Special Angel
December 1, 1957
WED 8/19
Carmen McRae
Comes Love
January 29, 1961
WED 8/19
Elvis Presley**
Love Me Tender
October 28, 1956
THU 8/20
Flip Wilson
The Devil Made Me Do It
January 11, 1970
THU 8/20
Joan Rivers
Marriage
September 11, 1966
FRI 8/21
Henny Youngman
Wife & Marriage
May 8, 1966
FRI 8/21
Margot Fonteyn & Rudolf Nureyev
Swan Lake
May 16, 1965
FRI 8/21
Tessie O'Shea
London Is A Bit Of All Right And What Ho, Mrs. Brisket?
December 22, 1963
SAT 8/22
Bill Haley And His Comets
Rock Around The Clock
August 7, 1955
SAT 8/22
Eddie Fisher
I Need You Now
August 29, 1954
SAT 8/22
London Lee
Teenagers And Dating
April 11, 1965
SAT 8/22
Richard Pryor
Basketball, Fights & Heroes
February 8, 1970
SAT 8/22
Shirley Bassey
Something's Coming
January 26, 1969
SAT 8/22
Yul Brynner
“Two Guitars”
September 17, 1967
SUN 8/23
Elizabeth and Collins
Knife Throwing
March 6, 1966
SUN 8/23
Olivia DeHavilland
Interview
June 8, 1958
SUN 8/23
Sam Levenson
Sending Kids To Camp
June 25, 1961
SUN 8/23
The Temptations
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
January 31, 1971
MON 8/24
Johnny Carson 
Host Hangover
November 17, 1957
MON 8/24
Minnie Pearl
New York & Family
January 18, 1970
MON 8/24
Timi Yuro
Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
February 18, 1962
TUE 8/25
Bob Hope
Tribute To Irving Berlin
May 5, 1968
TUE 8/25
Diana Ross & The Supremes
I Get A Kick Out Of You
January 5, 1969
TUE 8/25
LaVern Baker
Tweedlee Dee
November 20, 1955
TUE 8/25
Soupy Sales
Ed's Summer Vacation
September 12, 1965
TUE 8/25
Tony Martin
I Believe
June 28, 1953
WED 8/26
Elvis Presley**
When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold
January 6, 1957
WED 8/26
Fats Domino
Let The Four Winds Blow
March 4, 1962
WED 8/26
George Carlin 
Election Year
April 28, 1968
WED 8/26
Les Double Faces
Mime Troupe
November 7, 1965
THU 8/27
Guy Mitchell
Singing The Blues
November 18, 1956
THU 8/27
Jackie Vernon
Watermelon
October 3, 1965
THU 8/27
The Supremes
Up The Ladder To The Roof
February 15, 1970

And, speaking of Elvis, check out this cool interview with Pat Boone about the VERY early days of rock and roll … Pat Boone and Elvis Presley … performing on the same bill?!?!?  This is unreal!!!

Pat Boone on performing with Elvis Presley - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG – YouTube
kk:
Check it out.
FB



Hi Kent ...
I enjoyed reading the Smithsonian article about George Harrison's visit to his sister, Louise, in small town of  Benton Illinois. Thanks, Mike, for this one!  I think the last sentence said it all as George said They’re great people. They were glad to see me — not because I’m a Beatle, but because I’m me.” 
The social distancing pics were fun to imagine of the Beatles crossing Abbey Road. Seems like only yesterday.  By the way, I was surprised to read that Harrison had no indoor plumbing living in Liverpool at that time. Very humble beginnings.  I am grateful that he had such fun visiting his sister. 
Wondering if the picture you ran below are all of your singles?  Wow!
I also found the acapella version of  "Brandy" to be amazing. I could see how much Elliott Lurie still loves singing his song.  It was great seeing the Looking Glass.  I think I may have mentioned that the drummer Jeff and I went to the same high school together.  He was my lunch table buddy. Funny thing is that he lives down the road from me.  Lol 
I was also sorry to hear about Trini Lopez.  He sang cheerfully and with a smile.   I liked his rendition of "If I Had a Hammer."  I guess he was a ground breaker for the Hispanic community.  There weren't many Latin names around back in the day.  I also think of the Ed Sullivan show with "Bill Dana" and his routine "My name Jose Jimenez."  LOL ... another ground breaker from back in the day. 
Sandy
That picture you saw was just the “E’s” in Clark Besch’s record collection, which he is diligently sorting thru right now to determine what to keep and how to better catalog and organize it.  (I wish I had the time ti do that!!!)
Watch for a special Looking Glass feature next week in Forgotten Hits! (kk)

I know I am more than a couple weeks late on this, Kent, but I still wanted to share these pics with you.  
Pepe Cardona and I had different flights that arrived at roughly the same time for a show where each of us represented our bands and wound up killing most of our downtime together over the couple days of the concert down in Jackson, TN.  Dennis Tufano was there as well and photobombed us as you can see. 
KOOL 103.1 FM brought us in and the show was at the Carl Perkins Theater in Jackson.  Pepe and I both flew into Memphis and then had a couple hours each way with our host and station owner, Gerald Hunt, who was also our driver to the gig.  
Great fun; great loss; great guy; non-stop entertainer and lived up to the band’s name when still among us. 
Pepe was truly “ALIVE” in 2018 and his performance there surely was “N KICKIN”
Please share these photos with Dennis, too, if you have his email address, okay?     
Ray




VERY cool!!!  (Hoping Dennis Tufano will see these on his own ... he's a dedicated Forgotten Hits Reader as well.)  And no apologies necessary for falling behind ... I can TOTALLY relate!!! ... which is why it has taken solong to finally get a new posting up here!  (Hopefully this one is long eonought to keep folks reading for awhile!  LOL)
Was this a solo show for you?  A concert featuring the music of Alive ‘n’ Kicking, The New Colony Six and The Buckinghams is a show well worth seeing.  Glad you had the chance to interact and spend some time with Pepe before his recent passing.  From everything I’ve heard, he was a great guy.  I know Tommy James was quite fond of him as well.  (Wish I could have seen the show!)  I know you guys were supposed to perform with Tommy (and the rest of the Cornerstones acts) this summer … but Covid 19 put an end to that.  Here’s hoping that a 2021 reschedule date will be announced soon.
Meanwhile, please stay safe.  (kk)

Hi Kent,
Hope all is good with ya, my friend. 
Yep, we both have the black and white TV skills ... LOL
Gotta say, I can't thank WLS enough way back when they broke Snoopy for us.
The story I got was they forced the smaller markets around them to play the record by jumping right on it. One of my old friends worked with a smaller station, and he said his program director was frantic trying to figure out who or what this Snoopy thing was all about and why they didn't have it ... LOL … Just too cool.
Keep the throttle mashed and stay safe my friend.
Later -
Barry
My clock radio went off to "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" the other morning!!!  (Heck of a way to wake up!  lol)
Take care, Barry!  (kk)
LOL ... too funny ... I agree … rough way to wake up my friend ... LOL
Be safe, mi Amigo

The Fab Four have been doing live streaming concerts for $15 per ticket during the pandemic … and recently sat down with their promoter Goldstar for a brief interview who now offer up “Five Questions With The Fab Four”:

Of course, WE did a Q&A with the boys a short while back, too, in promoting their then upcoming show at The Arcada Theatre.  (Yeah … remember live shows???)
You can read THAT news today, oh boy, right here:

Here’s a new gem, sent into us by Carol Ross, Tommy James’ manager.  It’s a somewhat overlooked track that Tommy recorded back in 1975.  Check it out!
Tommy recorded "Candy" as a knowing nod to his bubblegum days..." (from the liner notes on the "Tighter, Tighter" CD). This song was recorded in 1975. It was written by Tommy James and Ritchie Cordell.

I love this one!
If you’ve been watching any of the baseball games this year with zero attendance you’re probably laughing as hard as I am at the cardboard cut-outs that fill the stands within camera view (along with the canned applause and cheering being piped in thru the stadium speakers.)
I kept thinking about how cool it would be to have cut-outs made of me and Frannie so we could see ourselves at every game (something we could never afford to do in real life!)
Somebody at work told me it was only something like $60-$65 each to have these made … and that they were also offering that should a ball be hit into the stands and knock your cardboard cut-out over, you would be awarded the autographed ball that did it!
Well, Geddy Lee is evidently a big enough fan to have one made of himself to be on display at The Toronto Blue Jays home games which, due to the pandemic, are being played at the team’s Triple A stadium, Sahlen Field, in Buffalo, NY.
Read the article to find out just what a real baseball fan Geddy Lee really is!

Here’s the story behind one of my very favorite songs of all time …

FH Reader Bob Merlis sent us this piece about early pop music industry pioneer Morty Craft … 
Recording industry pioneer Morty Craft celebrated his 100th birthday on August 19th.  He established and/or ran numerous record companies over the years and released R&B, doo-wop, rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly hits over the course of five decades. In the 1940 and 50s he worked for MGM, Mercury and ABC-Paramount Records as both A&R and promotion realms.
It was with indie labels, most notably Bruce. Melba and Warwick that he built his reputation as a savvy record man.  Bruce Records was the home of the Harptones’ legendary “A Sunday Kind Of Love,” released in 1953, and Melba Records released “Church Bells May Ring” by The Willows in 1956, a song Craft co-wrote.
Morty Craft was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, on August 19, 1920; he became an arranger and played sax and clarinet during the big band era.  He moved to New York in the 1950s and built a reputation as a hitmaker through the many record labels in which he played a critical role. 
He started Lance Records in 1957 and soon hit with “Alone” by the Shepherd Sisters, a top 20 charter that he co-wrote and was later covered by Petula Clark. More recently Saint Motel’s “Sisters” was built around the song’s refrain, and its title seen as a tribute to the original. He leapt to the majors that same year when he joined MGM Records as Recording Chief and Director of Single Record Sales.  On his watch, the career of Connie Francis blossomed with her initial smash hit “Who’s Sorry Now.”  Sheb Wooley’s “Purple People Eater” and “It’s All In the Game” by Tommy Edwards were other notable MGM hits under Craft as well as “It’s Only Make Believe” by Conway Twitty. 
When his tenure at MGM ended in 1959, he segued to Warwick Records. At Warwick, he picked up “Crossfire” by Johnny and The Hurricanes from Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik’s Twirl label.  The group’s second instrumental single for Warwick, “Red River Rock” was a smash hit, going Top 5 in the US.  He went on to sign and record many top R&B acts including Louis Jordan, Roy Milton, Little Esther, Faye Adams, Percy Mayfield as well as Shirley and Lee. In keeping with the instrumental vein of Johnny and the Hurricanes, Warwick released “Wheels” by the String-A-Longs, produced by Norman Petty. It went to #3 on Billboard’s singles chart while Warwick’s subsidiary label 7 Arts scored with “Nag” by The Halos which went on to be covered by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.
Warwick also released a series of instrumental albums by Morty Craft and The Singing Strings.  As a producer, promoter, arranger, musician and deal maker, Morty Craft stands as one of the music industry’s most notable “record men.”  Happy birthday!
Bob Merlis

Hi Kent,
Don’t know if you watch the WGN news (kinda awful these days), but I saw this today and thought you might want to run it in your newsletter.
You know these guys - from the reconstructed Mauds in the early 2000’s - now with Dinosaur Exhibit, sometimes featuring Howard Levy and Jerry Goodman.
It was cool to see them on tv!
Mike Flynn wrote the song and has won a couple of awards for it.
Just a quick shot. If you want to see the whole thing you can check out the Ravinia tv site, I think they were on episode 2. (Second link below)
Hope you & your girls are all ok. Take care.
Marlene
What do Ramsey Lewis, CHICAGO, STING, Quent Lang and Mike Flynn from DINOSAUR EXHIBIT have in common ??????
They were all featured artists on Ravinia T.V. this summer !
See more …

With so much focus on launching our Top 200 Summer Favorites Countdown,, we missed a number of anniversaries over the course of the last week to ten days, including:


Two years later, he was out …

And to think … just five years later … The Beatles were performing live at Shea Stadium!!!

Elvis Presley’s death:

kk:
This song sums it up.
FB




A #12 hit for Ronnie McDowell in 1977

And from our very own LJ Coon, who’s been working for years now to reopen the investigation into the Buddy Holly plane crash …


51st Anniversary Woodstock Memories: 

And how about the premier of “The Midnight Special,” hosted by Wolfman Jack?!?!?
https://bestclassicbands.com/midnight-special-tv-series-9-13-17/

And from FH Reader Geoff Lambert, here are three more Beatles anniversaries of note from TODAY, August 23rd

1963:  In the UK, The Beatles’ She Loves You with I’ll Get You on the flip side is released on the Parlophone label. It will be their biggest record thus far -- and the already wall-to-wall phenomenon of Beatlemania is about to crank up to a whole higher level still!

1964:  The Beatles perform at the Hollywood Bowl but it will take thirteen years before Capitol Records releases the performance on the album The Beatles Live At Hollywood Bowl.

1965:  The US premiere of the motion picture Help! starring the Beatles was held for thousands of moviegoers wanting to see the group’s first colour motion picture. Their first film, A Hard Day’s Night, had been produced in black and white.

1966:  On their final tour of America, the Beatles performed at Shea Stadium in New York City, New York. Unlike the previous year's performance, which had sold out, there were 11,000 empty seats in the 55,600 seat stadium. The Beatles earn more than the previous year, receiving $189,000 for their performance.
(Reduced ticket sales at Shea Stadium have most often been attributed to the backlash due to John Lennon’s comments about The Beatles being more popular than Jesus Christ.  He publicly apologized for what he said … and how it was interpreted … right here in Chicago before their final US tour began.)  kk

kk:
I see on FACEBOOK that people asking for prayers for Stevie Wonder. 
Something to do with kidney problems. Do you know anything about it?
FrankB.
Stevie announced last year that he was having a kidney transplant in September (but of 2019.)  Apparently, he had a living donor and the surgery was scheduled months in advance.
A quick check online showed nothing in the way of new developments.  (Maybe his body is rejecting the new kidney?  Although I can’t find anything to state that he ever actually HAD the operation … so maybe that’s the issue?  Did something happen with the donor?  Changing his mind or incompatibility?  Did Stevie back out?  Anybody know for sure?)
I honestly don’t know … my searching isn’t coming up with anything … but we certainly wish him the best.  We saw Stevie live in concert a couple of years ago and the guy’s still got it.  (In fact, we named him our Concert of the Year that year!)  Best wishes, Stevie!  (kk)

Could you please, if you have it, send me any top 100 songs of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, sort of like a decade countdown.  I am trying to come up with creative ideas of things to do now, lol
Here is an example, do you have anything list like this for the 60’s 70;s and 80’s?
Thanks for your time
Eddie Spencer
                                The Top 100 Of The '80s
Based on a progressive point system applied to the weekly Billboard and Cash Box pop charts. (Compiled by Randy Price)
  1 PHYSICAL - Olivia Newton-John (MCA) '81-2
  2 ENDLESS LOVE - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (Motown) '81
  3 ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST - Queen (Elektra) '80-1
  4 EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE - The Police (A&M) '83
  5 FLASHDANCE...WHAT A FEELING - Irene Cara (Casablanca) '83
  6 CENTERFOLD - The J. Geils Band (EMI America) '82
  7 CALL ME - Blondie (Chrysalis) '80
  8 EYE OF THE TIGER - Survivor (Scotti Bros.) '82
  9 ABRACADABRA - The Steve Miller Band (Capitol) '82
10 LADY - Kenny Rogers (Liberty) '80-1
11 BETTE DAVIS EYES - Kim Carnes (EMI America) '81
12 EBONY AND IVORY - Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder (Columbia) '82
13 HURTS SO GOOD - John Cougar Mellencamp (Riva) '82
14 DON'T YOU WANT ME - The Human League (A&M) '82
15 SAY SAY SAY - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (Columbia) '83-4
16 I LOVE ROCK 'N ROLL - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (Boardwalk) '82
17 BILLIE JEAN - Michael Jackson (Epic) '83
18 SAY YOU, SAY ME - Lionel Richie (Motown) '85-6
19 DOWN UNDER - Men At Work (Columbia) '83
20 MANEATER - Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA) '82-3
21 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (pt. 2) - Pink Floyd Columbia) '80
22 ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE - Phil Collins (Atlantic) '89-'90
23 (Just Like) STARTING OVER - John Lennon (Geffen) '80-1
24 WHEN DOVES CRY - Prince & The Revolution (Warner Bros.) '84
25 UPSIDE DOWN - Diana Ross (Motown) '80
26 LIKE A VIRGIN - Madonna (Sire) '84-5
27 WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT - Tina Turner (Capitol) '84
28 ALL NIGHT LONG (All Night) - Lionel Richie (Motown) '83-4
29 I CAN'T GO FOR THAT (No Can Do) - Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA) '81-2
30 WOMAN IN LOVE - Barbra Streisand (Columbia) '80
31 WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU - Foreigner (Atlantic) '81-2
32 CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE - Queen (Elektra) '80
33 DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME - The Captain & Tennille (Casablanca) '79-'80
34 ROCK WITH YOU - Michael Jackson (Epic) '79-'80
35 TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART - Bonnie Tyler (Columbia) '83
36 JACK AND DIANE - John Cougar Mellencamp (Riva) '82
37 THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR - Dionne [Warwick] & Friends (with Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder) (Arista) '85-6
38 JESSIE'S GIRL - Rick Springfield (RCA) '81
39 HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY - Chicago (Full Moon) '82
40 JUMP - Van Halen (Warner Bros.) '84
41 FAITH George - Michael (Columbia) '87-8
42 OWNER OF A LONELY HEART - Yes (Atco) '83-4
43 BEAT IT - Michael Jackson (Epic) '83
44 MONEY FOR NOTHING - Dire Straits (Warner Bros.) '85
45 CARELESS WHISPER - Wham! Featuring George Michael (Columbia) '85
46 WE ARE THE WORLD - USA for Africa (Columbia) '85
47 IT'S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME - Billy Joel (Columbia) '80
48 BROKEN WINGS - Mr. Mister (RCA) '85-6
49 AGAINST ALL ODDS (Take A Look At Me Now) - Phil Collins (Atlantic) '84
50 FOOTLOOSE - Kenny Loggins (Columbia) '84
51 KARMA CHAMELEON - Culture Club (Virgin/Epic) '84
52 DON'T KNOW MUCH - Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville) (Elektra) '89-'90
53 HELLO Lionel - Richie (Motown) '84
54 WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN - The Bangles (Columbia) '86-7
55 SEPARATE LIVES - Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin (Atlantic) '85-6
56 ARTHUR'S THEME (Best That You Can Do) - Christopher Cross (Warner Bros.) '81
57 CELEBRATION - Kool & The Gang (De-Lite) '80-1
58 I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU - Stevie Wonder (Motown) '84
59 MICKEY - Toni Basil (Chrysalis) '82-3
60 ISLANDS IN THE STREAM - Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton (RCA) '83-4
61 ROSANNA - Toto (Columbia) '82
62 WHO CAN IT BE NOW? - Men At Work (Columbia) '82
63 SHAKE YOU DOWN - Gregory Abbott (Columbia) '86-7
64 NEED YOU TONIGHT - INXS (Atlantic) '87-8
65 GHOSTBUSTERS - Ray Parker Jr. (Arista) '84
66 DANCING IN THE DARK - Bruce Springsteen (Columbia) '84
67 MISSING YOU - John Waite (EMI America) '84
68 HARDEN MY HEART - Quarterflash (Geffen) '81-2
69 MAGIC - Olivia Newton-John (MCA) '80
70 BABY, COME TO ME - Patti Austin (with James Ingram) (Qwest) '82;) '83
71 GLORIA - Laura Branigan (Atlantic) '82
72 CHARIOTS OF FIRE (Titles) - Vangelis (Polydor) '82
73 I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston (Arista) '87
74 ON MY OWN - Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald (MCA) '86
75 LIVIN' ON A PRAYER - Bon Jovi (Mercury) '87
76 HERE I GO AGAIN - Whitesnake (Geffen) '87
77 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD - Tears For Fears (Mercury) '85
78 THE TIDE IS HIGH - Blondie (Chrysalis) '81
79 YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME - Bon Jovi (Mercury) '86-7
80 WE BUILT THIS CITY - Starship (Grunt) '85
81 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS - Foreigner (Atlantic) '85
82 DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME - Culture Club (Epic/Virgin) '83
83 I FEEL FOR YOU - Chaka Khan (Warner Bros.) '84-5
84 KEEP ON LOVING YOU - REO Speedwagon (Epic) '81
85 NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP - Rick Astley (RCA) '88
86 THE WAY IT IS - Bruce Hornsby & The Range (RCA) '86-7
87 CRAZY FOR YOU - Madonna (Geffen) '85
88 LET'S DANCE - David Bowie (EMI America) '83
89 COMING UP (Live At Glasgow) - Paul McCartney & Wings (Columbia) '80
90 QUEEN OF HEARTS - Juice Newton (Capitol) '81
91 DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS - Rick Springfield (RCA) '82
92 LOOK AWAY - Chicago (Reprise) '88-9
93 ALONE - Heart (Capitol) '87
94 WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO - Wham! (Columbia) '84
95 EASY LOVER - Philip Bailey with Phil Collins (Columbia) '85
96 SWEET DREAMS (Are Made Of This) - The Eurythmics (RCA) '83
97 EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN - Poison (Enigma) '88-9
98 THE ROSE - Bette Midler (Atlantic) '80
99 NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW - Starship (Grunt) '87
100 THEME FROM "GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" (Believe It Or Not) - Joey Scarbury (Elektra) '81
I don't have anything prepared like this although there are any number of such lists floating around.
It's tough because they're all based on various point systems ...
It also depends on which chart(s) they may be referencing.
That being said, Randy Price is one of the best chart statisticians out there and he has contributed numerous charts like this to Forgotten Hits in the past.  I would suggest you go back to wherever you happened to find this Top 100 Hit of the '80's and seek out his lists for the '60's and '70's as well.
(In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Randy sees this and sends us a couple of links for you to check out!  So stay tuned … and keep reading!)  kk

NEW RELEASES:
On Friday, November 20th, RCA will release a very special, new, deluxe 4-CD Box Set called “From Elvis In Nashville.”  It promises to provide the definitive chronicle of Elvis’ marathon Music City recording sessions from fifty years ago.
After the success of Presley’s American Sound Sessions in 1969, Elvis was anxious to get back into the studio again … so in June of 1970, he went to RCA’s Studio B in Nashville for a five-night series of recording sessions.  (The tracks recorded over these five nights would provide the bulk of the material for three Elvis albums:  “That’s The Way It Is,” “Elvis Country (I’m 10,000 Years Old)” and “Love Letters From Elvis.”  (A deluxe edition of “That’s The Way It Is” will also be released later this year as an 8-CD set, featuring the complete rehearsal sessions!)
Two of the discs included in “From Elvis In Nashville” will contain previously unreleased material.
You can preorder your copy here:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08928MGYK/?tag=thesecdis-20

First we received news about a brand new Herb Alpert documentary, premiering October 1st …



And now comes the announcement of a special 3-CD box set that’ll be available the following day (on October 2nd) …
We can’t wait!  (kk)

I’ve just started reading Harvey Kubernik’s new book “Docs That Rock” … OMG, it’s MASSIVE!!!  Absolutely jam-packed with info and interviews.  It works not only as a book worth reading but also as an excellent reference guide (and check list) to try and seek some of these programs and films out.  Well worth checking out.
Thanks, kk! 
Many hours of your life and FH readers as well in these pages, especially the TV dance music shows. 
I am getting so many kudos from around the world.
My books always touch nerves but this one has really gone deep tissue. Grateful and thankful.
Everyone is landlocked and watching TV, DVD's and streaming platforms and I'm the tour guide with this one!   
HK

The 50th Anniversary of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s album “Cosmo’s Factory” will be celebrated with the release of a new half-speed mastered LP.
Released in the summer of 1970, Cosmo’s Factory remarkably stood as Creedence Clearwater Revival’s fifth full-length in two years. The San Francisco Bay-bred swamp rockers were at the peak of a prolific streak, having released an unbelievable three Billboard Top Ten albums the year prior (outselling even the Beatles!).
Now, a half a century after its release, Craft Recordings are celebrating the band’s pinnacle album with this ultimate audiophile edition.
Commemorating its 50th anniversary, the album has been mastered at half speed by the award-winning engineer Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios. Using high-res transfers from the original analog tapes, the mastering process involves playing back the audio at half its recorded speed, while the cutting lathe is turned at half the desired playback speed. The technique allows for a micro-precise groove, resulting in extra sonic clarity and punch.
Enduring to this day, Cosmo’s Factory plays like a greatest hits collection — featuring the classics “Who”ll Stop the Rain,” “Up Around the Bend,” “Run Through the Jungle” and “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” as well as favorites “Long as I Can See the Light,” “Travelin’ Band” and the band’s striking cover of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”
Click here to order Cosmo’s Factory (180-gram half-speed master vinyl)
Click here to order The Studio Album Collection box set (comprising half-speed masters for CCR’s complete catalog)

This week marks the 53rd anniversary of the release of the Rolling Stones single “Dandelion” b/w “We Love You.” To commemorate the occasion ABKCO Music & Records has released brand new lyric videos for each song.
Links to view: 
Recorded in the midst of the band’s psychedelic period leading up to the release of Their Satanic Majesties Request, the Mick Jagger / Keith Richards-penned “Dandelion” features all five original Stones playing their respective instruments, with the exception of Brian Jones who is on Mellotron and saxophone. Recorded at Olympic Studios in London with frequent collaborator Nicky Hopkins providing harpsichord and manager Andrew Loog Oldham in the producer’s chair, “Dandelion” draws lyrical inspiration from British nursery rhymes. Soon after its 1967 release, the single reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 8 in the UK where “We Love You” was the A-side.
Also recorded at Olympic Studios in the summer of ’67, “We Love You” has Brian Jones on Mellotron, Nicky Hopkins on piano, and backing vocals by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who were returning the favor just after a Keith and Mick had contributed backing vocals to The Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love.” The jail door sound effects at the beginning is an aural reference to Jagger and Richards’ arrest for drug possession that February, in which the English country home of the latter was raided and the two spent a night in prison. Thinly disguised as a blanket statement of love, the song is actually an anti-authoritarian anthem (“You will never win we / Your uniforms don’t fit we”), sung by Jagger over Moroccan-influenced droning music. This new lyric video artfully incorporates prison-style bars and keyholes with psychedelic imagery.
Legendary recording engineer Eddie Kramer recollects the “Dandelion” sessions at Olympic on where he served as assistant engineer at the time. “The Stones were there right at the opening of the new Olympic Studios and remember Keith singing backup vocals on ‘Dandelion.” As far as Brian is concerned, he was a sensitive genius and I don’t think there was an instrument the, given enough time, he couldn’t play. That Mellotron he played was Keith’s; he had purchased it and it sat at Olympic for years as a kind of centerpiece. Everybody had to have a go at that bloody thing.”
“Our visual features a hand drawn alphabet inspired by the lettering on a Dutch 7" sleeve of ‘We Love You’ / ‘Dandelion’ from 1967,” stated the London-based creative design studio Yes Please  Productions whose founders Tom Readdy and Lucy Dawkins directed the videos. “Befitting the lyrics and 'flower power' vibe of ‘Dandelion,’ we drew a series of psychedelic scenes featuring dandelions and elements from nature, animated with a stop-frame feel to further compliment the track and time of original release.”

Hey Kent,
Just wanted to let you know that I’ve got a new vocal album, Neon Lights, available for download only. 
To be clear, this is NOT an instrumental album; however it does contain some guitar solos with my signature sound. 
It features my all-time favorite female vocalist, Linda Sarian.   Much of this album includes some tracks that go back many years and it comes all the way up to 2020.  
Linda and I recorded together; lost track; reconnected; had a country band; lost track and reconnected again. Now we’re trying to make up for lost time. 
To hear snippets of each song you can click on the link at the bottom of this message.
If you'd like to purchase any of the downloads, most online music stores should have the album by now (Amazon Music, iTunes, etc).

Several weeks ago we told you about the upcoming new album from Joey Molland of Badfinger fame.
Here is an update.  (A couple of his Beatles White Album touring bandmates will be joining him on a few tracks … also involved are Mark Hudson and Julian Lennon … and more!

September also brings us the newly expanded “Goats Head Soup” CD by The Rolling Stones … we’ve featured a couple of these “bonus tracks” over the past several weeks in Forgotten Hits.
And we can also look forward to a vastly expanded releases of Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers” album (in both 2-CD and 4-CD configurations), the 50th Anniversary special release of The Doors’ “Morrison Hotel” album (as a 2-CD set) as well as the first live Queen (featuring Adam Lambert) release.  “Live Around The World” is due out on October 2nd. (kk)

And finally, a quick apology:
If you didn’t receive a response from me during this time it’s only because I have once again fallen HUNDREDS of emails behind … in order to pull SOMETHING together for a Forgotten Hits Sunday Comments Page, I’m just now reading emails received on August 11th for the very first time!!!  Apologies … but coordinating the countdown results, building a new website to showcase them and putting together a special Labor Day Weekend Program with Scott Shannon … plus working my usual 55-60 hours a week in the REAL world … has kept me more than a little bit busier than normal of late!!!
We’re still digging out … even today, other than a few sporadic announcements, most of what you’re seeing is at least 8-12 days old!  But we’ll get there!
Thanks to everyone for stickin’ with us.  (kk)